Monteverde is the general name used to describe the area around the Monteverde Cloud Forest, but it’s a little misleading because the place actually includes several small neighborhoods which are all quite close together- Monteverde, Cerro Plano, Perro Negro, and Santa Elena, which is the largest of the neighborhoods.
It’s important to understand that these neighborhoods are located on a mountainside, and this topography has necessitated some rather windy roads. Plus, it’s hard to pay attention to road signs when there are so many jaw-dropping vistas all around!
So, the Ocotea Team has gotten together to create this article to help you not only find your way around but also find some of the best attractions and hidden gems in the region.
First off, let’s start with a map so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about…
Map of the Area Around Monteverde
As you can see, the town winds in and around the mountain peaks and through valleys crossed by bridges, so it’s not your typical road map with nice neat square blocks. Monteverde and the area around it is an adventure. It’s like following a treasure map where you have no idea what’s around the next bend.
Personally, I love that aspect of it, because I love exploring. But not everyone does, so this map will give you a general idea of the layout of the area. And if you really want to deep dive into what Monteverde has to offer, I highly recommend downloading our comprehensive and useful map full of all sorts of useful information.
For the purposes of this post (because there is so much), I’m going to pick out a few things from each category to talk about. Before I do that, however, let’s talk about how to get here first!
Getting to Monteverde
This is another topic that could be extensive, so there will be a separate post (coming soon) that will cover directions from other areas of the country, some information about the airports, various modes of transportation you can use, and so on. For now, we’re just going to talk about its location in the grand scheme of things.
If you look at a map of the regions of Costa Rica you will see that the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is actually located right at the juncture of three regions, the Northern Pacific, Northern Wetlands, and Central Pacific. However, the town is part of the province of Puntarenas, which is in the Central Pacific Region. What’s good about this, from a tourist perspective, is that Monteverde is right in the middle of lots of wonderful destinations and between both airports (San Jose and Liberia), so getting here is easier than you might think.
Many people who head to Costa Rica on vacation choose more than one destination and spend a week in each (or part of a week) so they can enjoy the best of both worlds. That’s where a central location comes in really handy.
Whether you fly into the Liberia airport in Guanacaste for some surfing and then meander to Monteverde to explore the diversity of the cloud forest, or you land in San Jose Airport, come here first and then cruise down the coast to Manuel Antonio National Park, the drive from the airport to the mountaintop is about the same (approx 3 ½ hours). Most people choose to get a rental car at the airport, but shuttles are also available if you want to sit back and enjoy the view along the way.
Let’s move on to some practical matters before we get to the fun stuff…
Can I Find What I Need in Monteverde?
For those of you who like to stay a while, or just like to be uber prepared, it’s always good to know what is available in terms of shopping, medical care, pharmacies, and the like.
The good news is that Monteverde has it all, even though it’s a small town.
There are gas stations, so you can fill up and head out to explore. There are banks with ATMs so you can exchange your money (although US dollars are accepted everywhere), and pharmacies where you can get most medications (although they may not always have the same brands).
There is even a post office if you want to send your family some postcards to make them jealous. There are clinics for medical emergencies or to deal with the rash you got from sniffing all the lovely flowers (been there, done that), and there is a shopping mall where you can fill most needs.
So, if you’re running out of room in your luggage, you can unload a few of those tubes of sunscreen and buy them when you get here.
Accommodations
As a popular tourist destination, the area has a wide variety of accommodation types for any taste or budget, from a rustic lodge to an eco-friendly boutique hotel tucked in under the canopy, to high-end luxury.
The Ocotea Boutique Hotel is a truly unique spot to settle in and immerse yourself in nature. Perched on a hilltop with stunning views of the countryside, and boasting the best service around, it’s the ideal home base from which to explore… or to simply settle into your surroundings and let the peacefulness creep into your soul.
Fresh Grown Costa Rican Coffee
You can’t come to Costa Rica and not try a cup of delicious, locally grown coffee, because we grow some of the best beans on the planet. Luckily coffee enthusiasts can easily satisfy their java cravings because every small cafe and restaurant serves deliciously smooth, rich Costa Rican coffee made from Arabica beans. When I think of all the cups of brown water I’ve had in Canadian restaurants over the years, I almost want to cringe…
It’s also really easy to stock up with fresh beans to take home, so you can enjoy the flavor of Monteverde long after you’ve gone home. One great place to do this is Cafe Monteverde which is located in Santa Elena, right next to the CASEM Co-op (which we’ll talk about later). The cafe has a wide variety of coffee blends, lots of delicious treats to enjoy, and a gorgeous tree shading the patio where you can often watch colorful birds and capuchin monkeys while you sip.
Or, if you can’t exist on caffeine alone, you can visit the Choco Cafe and Restaurant which is on highway 620 between Santa Elena and Monteverde. They have a full menu of delicious options and a scrumptious dessert list. If you haven’t tried chicken curry made with coconut milk… you haven't lived.
If you want to explore coffee culture a little bit further, there are several coffee tours available, where you get up close and personal with your favorite bean, learn the drying and roasting process, and discover how different types of soil, and even neighboring plants can affect the taste of your morning brew.
So now that we’ve talked about getting here, you have a nice place to lay your head, and you know where to get your morning caffeine fix… let’s talk about some local landmarks.
Landmarks and Gorgeous Scenery in Monteverde
The wonderful thing about a place like Monteverde is that everywhere you look, there is a spectacular view. If you’re on a budget, you can literally pack a picnic lunch and spend your day driving in circles and never run out of things to see, without spending a lot of money.
Here are a few spots in and around Monteverde well worth seeing…just because…
The Local Farmer’s Market
Any trip to a tropical location should, in my humble opinion, include a stop at the local Feria or market. Why? Because it’s an experience like no other. The absolutely stupefying array of fruits and vegetables that you can find will make your head spin and your tastebuds quiver. Plus, they quite often have lots of other interesting wares to investigate… like homemade baked goods, street food, and handicrafts. If you see something that looks like a long flat bean, called a guaba or pacay, give it a try, its nickname is the “ice cream bean” for good reason. You can find more information on Costa Rican fruits and vegetables here.
The Monteverde Cheese Factory
What many people don’t realize about Monteverde is that there is an Amish community that has been living and thriving in Monteverde since 1951 when 11 families purchased 14,000 hectares of land. They opened the cheese factory in 1952, and a tradition was born. Today the factory (which was purchased by Sigma two years ago) receives 33,000 liters of milk daily from local dairy farmers and turns that into 3,300kg of cheese- every day.
They offer tours, lots of delicious treats, and ice cream… and are located on the big bend of the main highway (620) that runs from Santa Elena to Monteverde.
CASEM Co-Op
The CASEM Co-Op is an artisan market that is run by the ladies on Monteverde. It is full of an amazing array of handicrafts created using techniques that have been around for generations, as well as some items that are created using recycled materials.
Sunset Lookout Spot
When you’re this high above sea level, and you’re facing the Pacific Ocean, you’re bound to get some breath-taking sunsets. There are plenty of local spots where you can sit and gaze out at the colors as the sun sinks into the sea, but one stands out, and it's a well-kept secret… so shhh!
On highway 620 (the main road) heading North, just past the Monteverde Gas Station are some benches on the left side of the road. They are there for people who want to slow down and take a moment to enjoy the view. If you’re in the area at sunset, it is well worth the stop.
Tourist Attractions
This is a category that could take pages and pages, and knowing this, I left it for the last. Everywhere you go, people are talking about the touristy locations, and they are doing it because they’re the reason people come to Monteverde. However, as you may have noticed, this is an area of wild natural beauty and far-reaching vistas. It’s a place where you will find yourself staring up into a tree for half an hour- for one reason or another- and where you can’t help but pause, take a breath and just… be.
Where you automatically feel yourself slowing down, breathing deeply, and relaxing… because that’s what time in nature does. That’s why I wanted to share with you all the little things that make Monteverde a great place to visit- even without canopy tours, zip lines, and ATVs.
Having said that, here are some fabulous tours that you can enjoy because you really should see some of the diversity that makes Monteverde so popular while you’re here.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has been protecting one of the rarest ecosystems on the planet for more than 50 years because only 1% of the world’s forests are classified as ‘cloud forests’.
The Hummingbird Gallery because there is something fascinating about a tiny, colorful bird that sounds like a jet plane but hovers like a helicopter.
The Orchid Gallery because where else can you find 450 species of orchids in the same place?
Bird Watching is a favorite pastime in Costa Rica. Probably because there are so many amazingly colorful birds… everywhere. I would love to be able to identify all of the bird songs that I hear all around me, and maybe after one of these tours, I could!
Delicious Cuisine
Now that you’ve hiked and bird watched, you’re bound to be hungry. Luckily finding delicious food is easy in Monteverde. The hard part is deciding which restaurant to go to!
One of the most exciting things about the food here is the number of farm-to-table options…and why not? Monteverde’s population is dedicated to living sustainably and protecting the environment around them.
By using locally sourced ingredients, or by growing their own, restaurants reduce waste, and carbon emissions and avoid all that extra packaging. Plus… it just tastes better when everything is fresh!
Bon Appetit!
Located right on the corner where highway 606 meets highway 619, Bon Appetit! is a great spot to finish off a busy day. This Italian Eatery has a huge selection of mouth-watering dishes to tempt your tastebuds and a wine list that will make even the most discerning palate drool.
Morphos
Located on Morphos Lane (surprisingly enough) right off the 620, Morphos Restaurant is a great spot to head out to the porch, plop down in one of their Adirondack chairs and enjoy a delicious meal, and a fancy cocktail while watching the sun go down. Try a Cafe Morphos… it's a gigantic coffee milkshake made with coffee liqueur and coffee ice cream… What can go wrong?
A Wonderful Place to Be
Before I go, I want to leave you with one last thought…
Any day spent in the beauty and serenity of nature is good for the soul. No matter what type of activity appeals to you. No matter if you’re extending all sorts of energy, or sitting on a bench gazing at the view for hours. That calm that seeps into you? That’s what makes places like Monteverde extra special. It’s a feeling you seldom get when you’re surrounded by concrete and high rises… so enjoy it.
Until next time, Pura Vida!
